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Noah starts to laugh. It’s a deep, highly amused, rumbly sound that makes me think I’m going to be questioning my life choices very soon. Specifically, the one where I thought I could rent out a room to the hottest man I’ve ever met.

“It’s not funny,” I say, though I start laughing myself.

“No, it’s not.” He looks down at me with so much affection…and amusement. “But it is rather endearing. Maybe even a little bit…sexy.”

My mouth goes dry. “It’s what now?”

“Tell me what you’re waiting for.”

“Oh. You know. The usual.”

“Marriage.” The sparkle leaves Noah’s eyes, and I think it’s for the same reason my mood is suddenly plummeting.

I’m a human, and Noah is a dragon. And as much as I like him, I don’t know if we have a future.

Except…his hand is warm. And his blood is in the fridge next to mine. Noah is a dragon—but I’m not without scales.

“Down the road, have you ever considered getting married?” I ask, and then I quickly add, “Not to me! But…eventually?”

“At one time, I did, yes.”

“Before you entered the final stage?”

He nods, now very solemn. So solemn I want to kiss his frowning lips and bring back his smile.

“And do you think you’d ever consider marrying a little baby larva?”

Noah closes his eyes, smiling against his will. “We’ve got to be done with that.”

“Yes, or no?”

“Yes.” He opens his eyes, and our gazes catch and hold. “Yes, Piper, I would.”

“But I’d get old.”

He brings his hand to the back of my neck. So gentle. “You wouldn’t have to.”

“There you go again, talking about breaking the law for me,” I joke softly. “You promised you wouldn’t bite me.”

His fingers knead my muscles, sending warmth down my spine. “How about I amend my promise? I won’t bite you…unless you ask me to.”

“Okay…” I pause. “But not while you’re kissing me, all right? You have no idea how chaotic my thoughts are then.”

Noah barks out a laugh and then groans, his mind probably wandering where mine did. “Does this mean we’re dating?”

“No….but it does mean we’re responsible adults, and we talked about important things before leaping into a relationship.” I smirk at his look of pure annoyance. “I’m proud of us.”

Shaking his head, he starts up the stairs. “I’m going to bed.”

“Noah, wait.”

He turns back expectantly.

I grin up at him. “Don’t forget to take your blood.”

16

Noah walksinto the kitchen and eyes my plate full of cucumbers, radishes, carrots, and celery. As he frowns at my breakfast, I pick up a slice of cucumber and pop it into my mouth, chewing thoughtfully.